India in the Works of Kipling, Forster and Naipaul. Purabi Panwar. Delhi: Pencraft International, 2000.

Postcolonialism has been the buzzword for over a decade now. Several theoretical books appeared on the concept, and almost all journals brought out special numbers on the topic. Although initially postcolonial theory began in the Western academies, more recent scholarship in the field has been produced locally. For instance, a number of Indian scholars published studies of postcolonialism, conceptualising it in the specific context of India (Mukherjee and Trivedi 1994 , Loomba 1998, Leela Gandhi 1999). This recontextualisation of postcolonial theory has been a very important and meaningful development in this field of study. Post-Coloniality: Reading Literature, a collection of critical essays, is another significant addition to Indian scholarship on postcolonial theory and practice. The essays included discuss developments in postcolonial theory in the last ten years, examine their relevance to Indian writing, and other postcolonial literatures. Some of the issues addressed here are: concepts of nation in postcolonial theory; radical shifts in reading practices; colonialism and its impact on teaching English literature; gender and postcolonialism; and issues of class, caste and ethnicity.

Purabi Panwar describes her work as ‘Postcolonial Revaluations’ and thus locates her own position as a critic. A deconstructive reading of the writings of the empire is an important aspect of postcolonial reading practices. Alongside, the images of India inscribed in literary texts too have come in for a close and critical analysis. Panwar looks at the inscriptions of India in the works of Kipling, Forster and Naipaul and critiques these writers’ perceptions of the Indian socio-cultural and historical contexts through a close reading of their texts. She also investigates the interface between travel writings and fictional constructs of these writers. The volume works on and between the two genres—travel writing and fiction—and examines the crossover points between fact and fiction, and identifies areas of overlap and contradiction. Although reading the works of Kipling, Forster (writers of the empire) and Naipaul (who is a postcolonial himself) through certain common grids is beset with theoretical problems, Panwar manages the task with a fair degree of balance and precision. The book is highly readable and engaging.